Walks the tightrope between real jazz and jazz lite . . .
Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 01/31/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
". . . although definitely closer to the former. After all, these guys all have heavyweight jazz credentials: Marc Johnson was Bill Evans's last bassist, and has played with everyone from Joe Lovano to Jack DeJohnette to Enrico Pieranunzi to Gary Burton to Stan Getz to Michael Brecker to Dino Saluzzi. Peter Erskine also has an impressive resume. He's played on more than 250 sessions with such notables as Stan Kenton, Weather Report, Joe Henderson, Freddy Hubbard, Jan Garbarek, Chick Corea, Bill Frisell, Pat Metheny, John Abercrombie, Ralph Towner, and Kenny Wheeler. Alan Pasqua came up with drummer Tony Williams's Lifetime group, with which he recorded two albums on Columbia. He has also played and recorded with Bob Dylan, Santana, Ry Cooder, Joe Walsh, Paul Motian, Jack DeJohnette, Dave Holland, Michael Brecker, Sam Rivers, Joe Henderson, John Patitucci, Reggie Workman, Gary Peacock, James Moody, and Gary Burton. Together with Erskine, he leads a highly acclaimed piano trio based in LA.
The closest analog for this music I know of is a wonderful disc by Steve Erquiaga, longtime guitarist for steel drummer Andy Narell, called Erkiology. Both have that glorious sun washed SoCal feel without lapsing into schmaltz. And Dirk K's concept and approach to his instrument seems quite similar. Other comparable discs include Sun Song by Tony Darren, San Francisco Nighthawks by Eddie Marshall, and Vic Juris's Blue Horizon, music I call "smooth jazz with spine."
Very appealing."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1